Re: Pancreas Divisum-Long Term Stent Placements

[Guest guest]

I was diagnosed with a Pancreas Divisum in 2001 after numerous ap

attacks. I opted for the long term stent placement but after

developing pancreatitis from the 3 stent placements (over a 6 month

period) it just wasn't working. I was still having attacks. I had the

sphincteroplasty surgery on my pancreatic duct since it was my last

option. It gave me an additional 2 months before I started having

attacks again. I have now been diagnosed as chronic and am trying to

get by on the low fat diet/enzyme therapy and daily pain medication.

There seems to be no rhyme or reason to my attacks now and I haven't

gone over 12 weeks without suffering a debilitating attack that puts

me in the hospital. I am looking into home health coming in to handle

my flare ups. I have a medport line in my chest that allows for easy

iv access and this was a requirement for the home health care. I wish

I had a better story to tell you on stent placement but in my case and

with the extremely narrow ducts I have it just didn't work. I would

give it a try though. I explored every option that was given to me

because I refused to give up. I still explore options and am

currently looking into antioxidant therapy in hopes that it might ease

the pain of the attacks. Good luck to your daughter. Tell her

to " hang tough " and never give up.

Best to you and yours,

Judy

Wakefield, VA

[Guest guest]

Judy,

Thank you for replying. I am so sorry to hear that you haven't had a

better outcome. The longest my daughter has had between attacks is

about 8 weeks. We'd be happy to have 12. I just still can't get

adjusted to the fact that last February everything seemed so normal

and now we don't know if it will be again. I hate this for all of you

who suffer from this horrible and little known condition.

Hoping you are blessed with a miracle (if they exist)

Warmest regards,

Lynne

>

> I was diagnosed with a Pancreas Divisum in 2001 after numerous ap

> attacks. I opted for the long term stent placement but after

> developing pancreatitis from the 3 stent placements (over a 6 month

> period) it just wasn't working. I was still having attacks. I had

the

> sphincteroplasty surgery on my pancreatic duct since it was my last

> option. It gave me an additional 2 months before I started having

> attacks again. I have now been diagnosed as chronic and am trying

to

> get by on the low fat diet/enzyme therapy and daily pain

medication.

> There seems to be no rhyme or reason to my attacks now and I

haven't

> gone over 12 weeks without suffering a debilitating attack that

puts

> me in the hospital. I am looking into home health coming in to

handle

> my flare ups. I have a medport line in my chest that allows for

easy

> iv access and this was a requirement for the home health care. I

wish

> I had a better story to tell you on stent placement but in my case

and

> with the extremely narrow ducts I have it just didn't work. I would

> give it a try though. I explored every option that was given to me

> because I refused to give up. I still explore options and am

> currently looking into antioxidant therapy in hopes that it might

ease

> the pain of the attacks. Good luck to your daughter. Tell her

> to " hang tough " and never give up.

> Best to you and yours,

>

> Judy

> Wakefield, VA

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks Lynne,

I did have a miracle, last Thanksgiving I gave birth to a healthy

baby boy. He is the spark that gets me going in the morning now.

Since I have had him I haven't gone longer than 8 weeks without

suffering an attack that would hospitalize me. Since May I have been

hospitalized 5 times. When I was pregnant I was in the hospital 17

out of 34 weeks of pregnancy. was certainly a surprise

when I got the test back April of 2004 after suffering an attack.

Now I wonder what I did with my life without him. My mother and

mother in law take turns caring for him when I'm sick. Give your

daughter a strong support system to get her through the low spots of

this illness. Many of us suffer from a form of depression from

being chronically ill. It is extremely common in pancreatitis given

the highs and lows your emotions feel from attacks. Be there for

her and never allow her to feel defeated. Her life will change now

as mine did and will probably never be the same. My husband and

family are my support network and when they see me down they pick me

up and make me realize all the good I have in front of me despite my

condition. I still think you should consider the stent placement.

You might always wonder " what if " . Take care

Judy

Wakefield, VA

[Guest guest]

Thank you Judy,

We will get through this together. My husband and I have 3 daughters

who are close and this one is my " baby " at 23. She asked me the other

day if this would in any way affect her ever having a baby. I don't

even remember what I said because I just didn't know--- I hope and

pray that in 5 or 10 years there will be medical progress that makes

this problem less disruptive and defeating for people who suffer with

it. I know that sounds like a long time, but better than

forever,right? I'm so thrilled for the birth of your beautiful son.

Having a child changes your whole life and sometimes keeps you going

when nothing else will. Are you taking an antidepressant? I do think

that we are going forward with the stent placements. If we do, her

doctor wants to do the procedure at the end of this month, so we need

to make a decision soon.

Thank you for your advice. It is well taken to heart.

Lynne

of pancreatitis , " judy " <journeylandjudy2000@y...>

wrote:

>

> Thanks Lynne,

>

> I did have a miracle, last Thanksgiving I gave birth to a healthy

> baby boy. He is the spark that gets me going in the morning now.

> Since I have had him I haven't gone longer than 8 weeks without

> suffering an attack that would hospitalize me. Since May I have

been

> hospitalized 5 times. When I was pregnant I was in the hospital 17

> out of 34 weeks of pregnancy. was certainly a

surprise

> when I got the test back April of 2004 after suffering an attack.

> Now I wonder what I did with my life without him. My mother and

> mother in law take turns caring for him when I'm sick. Give your

> daughter a strong support system to get her through the low spots

of

> this illness. Many of us suffer from a form of depression from

> being chronically ill. It is extremely common in pancreatitis

given

> the highs and lows your emotions feel from attacks. Be there for

> her and never allow her to feel defeated. Her life will change now

> as mine did and will probably never be the same. My husband and

> family are my support network and when they see me down they pick

me

> up and make me realize all the good I have in front of me despite

my

> condition. I still think you should consider the stent placement.

> You might always wonder " what if " . Take care

>

> Judy

> Wakefield, VA

>